- Nice melon
New York singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson has had a busy couple of months. She recently wrapped up a tour with the Barenaked Ladies and is now prepping for Lilith Fair. She also just played Bonnaroo and has some headlining club dates lined up. But her career wasn’t always this hectic. Forced to play piano (“against her will,” she says), Michaelson grew up wanting to be an actress. She studied theater at college, but after graduation she had a change of heart. “I went on a few auditions and got some [work], but it wasn’t rewarding,” she says. So she started writing music, releasing her debut album, Girls and Boys, in 2007. TV shows like Grey’s Anatomy and One Tree Hill started playing her songs, and Michaelson’s career took off. Her latest album, Everybody, features lush orchestration and a bigger sound, but it remains true to her folksy roots. “I’m older and have experienced more,” she says. “But I still play the ukulele. It works for me.” Songs like “Soldier” are certainly more ornate, but the sparse “Incredible Love” showcases Michaelson’s soulful voice. Next up: a remix album, due in the fall. “I kind of want to do something different and fun,” she says. “The whole singer-songwriter thing is getting a little played out.” Ingrid Michaelson plays House of Blues, with Matt Morris. 8 p.m. Tickets: $16 advance, $18 day of show. —Jeff Niesel
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